Protective article with flexible protective pads

ABSTRACT

An article for protecting part of a user&#39;s body and a method of fabricating the same. The article may be a glove for protecting a user&#39;s hand from heat or a knee or elbow pad for protecting a knee or elbow from impact. The article includes a base having interior and exterior surfaces. One or more three-dimensional protective pads are applied to a part of the exterior surface of the base. In a glove, at least some of the one or more pads are provided on a gripping surface of the glove. The pads are fabricated from silicone or neoprene or Kevlar® and may include additional materials that improve the abrasion resistance of the pad such as fiberglass mesh. Protective layers of material, such as layers of silicone, may be applied between the base and the pads, or over the surface of the base and the protective pads.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/032,794, filed Aug. 4, 2014; the entire specification of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field This invention is directed generally to articles used to protect parts of the human body against injury. More particularly, this invention is directed to articles such as gloves that protect the hands against injury from heat or impact, or articles that protect knees or elbows from impact injury. Specifically, the invention is directed to an improved protective article provided with a plurality of protective pads on at least part of the exterior surface thereof.

2. Background Information

Protective articles are used in many settings to aid in preventing injury. For example, a number of industries require workers to wear heat-resistant gloves that protect the workers' hands from heat during the performance of their jobs. A number of heat-resistant gloves are known and are used in different applications. One of the common problems experienced by users of such gloves is that areas of the glove that are involved in gripping hot objects are directly exposed to a heat source. Such areas include the palm region and the inner surfaces of the finger regions of the glove. The direct exposure to the heat source may result in those gripping regions of the glove heating up to a greater degree than the rest of the glove. Because of the additional intake of heat, it may also be more of an issue for those gripping regions of the glove to dissipate heat. Even though the worker is wearing protective gloves, they may still suffer burns to the palm and inner surfaces of their fingers. This results from the exposure of the glove gripping surfaces to direct heat and because the heat absorbed by those parts of the glove does not dissipate sufficiently rapidly.

Protective articles such as knee pads and elbow pads are used for a different purpose, namely, protective the user's knee or elbow from impact. Previously known impact protective articles typically include a thick layer of shock absorbent material applied to that part of the exterior surface of the protective article that is likely to hit the ground if the user falls, for example. While the thick layer of shock absorbent material does somewhat protect the user, any impact to the knee or elbow pad may not be dissipated sufficiently or quickly enough to prevent injury to the user.

SUMMARY

The improved protective article, method of fabricating this protective article and the method of using the same are provided to try and address the aforementioned issues.

There is disclosed herein an improved protective article such as a protective glove for protecting a user's hand against injury from heat or an improved protective knee or elbow pad for protecting a user's knee, for example, from impact. The terms “protective article”, “glove”, “knee pad” and “elbow pad” should all be considered synonymous and should further be considered as representative of any article that incorporates the disclosed aspects of the present invention. For ease of discussion and ease of illustration a protective glove is utilized as representative of all articles including aspects of the invention.

An article for protecting part of a user's body and a method of fabricating the same. The article may be a glove for protecting a user's hand from heat or a knee or elbow pad for protecting a knee or elbow from impact. The article includes a base having interior and exterior surfaces. One or more three-dimensional protective pads are applied to a part of the exterior surface of the base. In a glove, at least some of the one or more pads are provided on a gripping surface of the glove. The pads are fabricated from silicone or neoprene or Kevlar® and may include additional materials that improve the abrasion resistance of the pad such as fiberglass mesh. Protective layers of material, such as layers of silicone, may be applied between the base and the pads, or over the surface of the base and the protective pads.

The glove in accordance with an aspect of the present invention includes a base having interior and exterior surfaces. The base may be fabricated from drill cotton or from a heat-resistant and waterproof or water-resistant material such as rubber. A plurality of three-dimensional pads is applied to regions of the exterior surface of the base. These pads may be applied in a pattern that includes spaces between adjacent pads. At least some of these regions to which the pads may be applied to the glove may be gripping surfaces of the glove that will contact objects when held. (If the protective article is a knee or elbow pad, the plurality of pads may be applied to ground-contacting surfaces of the knee or elbow pad.)

The pads are fabricated from any suitable material that enhances the protective properties of the protective article. For example, if the protective article is a glove, then the pads on the exterior surface thereof may provide enhanced heat or cold protection or enhanced impact protection. If the protective article is a knee pad or elbow pad, then the pads on the exterior surface thereof may enhance the impact protection or abrasion protection provided by the knee or elbow pad.

The pads provided on the exterior surface of the protective article may be fabricated from a selected protective material different from the rest of the glove or from a material similar or identical to the material of the glove. By way of example, the pads provided on the exterior surface of the base may be comprised of a selected material including silicone; neoprene; Kevlar®; silicone mixed with Kevlar®; neoprene mixed with Kevlar®; silicone, neoprene or Kevlar® mixed with a fiberglass mesh; or silicon and Kevlar® and a fiberglass mesh; or neoprene and Kevlar® and a fiberglass mesh.

In addition to the pads provided on the exterior surface of the protective article, one or more layers of the selected material, such as one or more layers of silicone, for example, may be applied between the base and the pads on the exterior surface of the base, and/or over the part or all of the exterior surface of the base and the pads thereon.

In one aspect, the invention may provide a protective article comprising a base having an interior surface and an exterior surface; where the interior surface bounds and defines a space; wherein the base is adapted to receive a part of a user's body therein; and one or more three-dimensional pads provided on regions of the exterior surface of the base.

A method of producing a protective article comprising providing a base having an interior surface and an exterior surface; and wherein the interior surface bounds and defines a space adapted to receive a part of a user's body; forming and bonding one or more three-dimensional pads to the exterior surface of the base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A sample embodiment of the invention is set forth in the following description, is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a front of a first embodiment of a protective hand-specific glove incorporating discrete protective pads on an exterior surface thereof;

FIG. 2 is a right side view of the glove taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is an enlargement of the highlighted region of FIG. 2 showing a first manner of fabricating the glove of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3B is an enlargement of the highlighted region of FIG. 2 showing a second manner of fabricating the glove;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of a first method of fabricating the glove;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of the base being coated with a first layer of a protective material;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of protective pads being applied to the base glove having a first protective layer provided thereon;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of the glove of FIG. 6 being dipped to apply a second protective layer thereon;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of a front of a second embodiment of a hand-specific protective glove showing a different pattern of discrete protective pads applied thereto;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of a third embodiment of a glove incorporating the discrete protective pads on the exterior surface thereof, the glove illustrated in this figure being a puppet glove;

FIG. 10 is cross-sectional view of the puppet glove of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a knee pad having discrete protective pads applied to an exterior surface thereof.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-4 there is shown a first embodiment of an improved heat-resistant glove in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, generally indicated at 10. Only the front of glove 10 is illustrated herein but it will be understood that the back of the glove is correspondingly shaped. Glove 10 is a mitt-style glove that includes a digit region 12, a thumb region 14, a palm region 16, and a wrist region 18. Wrist region 18 may be elongated as illustrated herein so as to cover at least a portion of the forearm. Glove 10 is illustrated as a hand-specific glove but it will be understood that the glove may, instead, be an ambidextrous glove. The term “hand-specific” is used to indicate that the glove in question is configured to be placed on a user's left hand or right hand. An ambidextrous glove, on the other hand, may be used on either of the user's left or right hands. In this latter instance, the digit region 12 and thumb region 14 are aligned along a common axis.

Digit region 12, thumb region 14, palm region 16, and wrist region 18 of glove 10 bound and define an interior space 20. The bottom end 18 a of wrist and forearm region 18 defines an opening into that interior space 20. The user will insert his or her hand into the opening and into space 20. That portion of space 20 bounded and defined by digit region 12 receives the user's index finger, middle finger, ring finger and little finger; the portion of space 20 bounded and defined by thumb region 14 receives the user's thumb; the portion of space 20 bounded and defined by palm region 16 receives the user's palm and back of the hand; and the portion of space 20 bounded and defined by wrist region 18 receives the user's wrist and part of their forearm therein.

Glove 10 may include a base fabricated from a plurality of layers of material that aid in protecting the hand of a user wearing the glove from high temperatures and/or hot liquids. As best seen in FIG. 3A, glove 10 may comprise a base 22 and a plurality of protective pads 26 that are applied to part of exterior surface 22 a of base 22 in a pattern that may include rows extending horizontally across part of the exterior surface of base 22; and columns extending vertically across part of the exterior surface thereof. In order to position pads 26 in the pattern, the pads 26 are placed at intervals from each other on base 22 and are therefore spaced a distance from each other thereon. Pads 26 may be discrete pads, i.e., pads that extend alone outwardly from the exterior surface of base 22 and are of generally the same size and shape as each other. These discrete pads 26 may be separated from adjacent pads 26 by gaps 28. However, if it aids in protecting the hand of the user, some of the smaller discrete pads may be connected together to form larger pads that cover bigger parts of the exterior surface of glove 10.

A protective layer 30 may be applied over exposed regions of base 22 and pads 26. This means that the entire exterior surface of glove 10 may include a continuous run of protective material. Protective layer 30 may be a silicone layer, a neoprene layer, a Kevlar® or a layer of a mixture of some or all of these substances with or without fiberglass mesh.

All of these components will be further described herein, as will the method of fabrication of glove 10.

Base 22 may be fabricated from a suitable material such as drill cotton. Base 22 includes a number of gripping surfaces. These gripping surfaces are locations on base 22 that will tend to contact any object that is grasped in the hand of a user wearing the glove 10. The gripping surfaces may include the front exterior surface of palm region 16, the front exterior surface of digit region 12; and the inside exterior surfaces of thumb region 14. Because these gripping surfaces may come into direct contact with hot objects if they are held or touched, the gripping surfaces of glove 10 are provided with additional protection. This additional protection may take the form of a plurality of discrete, individual pads 26 that are applied to the gripping surfaces of base 22.

Pads 26 may comprise individual blocks of the selected protective material such as individual blocks of silicone. Alternatively, pads 26 may comprise a mesh that connects individual blocks of selected protective material together to form combined blocks of protective material which are then applied over the exterior surface of base 22. If pads 26 are individual blocks of material, they pads 26 may be fabricated from a heat and/or liquid resistant or impermeable material. That material may further be a heat dissipating material. Suitable materials for the fabrication of pads 26, as indicated earlier herein may include but are not limited to silicone; neoprene; Kevlar®; silicone mixed with Kevlar®; neoprene mixed with Kevlar®; silicone, neoprene or Kevlar® mixed with a fiberglass mesh; or silicon and Kevlar® and a fiberglass mesh; or neoprene and Kevlar® and a fiberglass mesh. These mixtures utilized for pads 26 may also tend to improve the abrasion resistance of pads 26.

Pads 26 may be formed into three-dimensional shapes that are then engaged with base 22. The three-dimensional shape provides a larger surface area to pad 26 and thus aids in promoting heat-loss therefrom. So, for instance, as is illustrated herein, pads 26 may be generally cubic in shape and have a width “W” (FIG. 1) and length “L”, and a depth “D” (FIG. 3). The relative dimensions of the width, length and depth of the individual pads 26 used on glove 10 may be varied as desired or necessary for different regions of the gripping surfaces and to suit the end purpose of glove 10. It will be understood that other differently shaped three-dimensional pads could be used instead of the cubic ones illustrated herein. Pads 26 cause the gripping surfaces of the digit region 12, thumb region 14, and palm region 16 to have a greater effective thickness of protective material thereon. This aids in protecting those parts of the user's hands that would ordinarily come into contact with hot substances or environments and provides improved protection when the user's hands are in direct contact with a heat source such as when they are gripping a hot object.

As indicated previously herein, each pad 26 is separated from the surrounding adjacent pads 26 by gaps 28. These gaps 28 allow for air to more freely circulate around pads 26 and thus hasten heat loss therefrom. Gaps 28 also form channels which allow hot water or other hot liquids to flow therethrough. Gaps 28 therefore tend to channel hot water or other liquids away from the gripping surfaces of glove 10. Hot liquid is therefore easily shed by glove 10. This is particularly helpful if protective layer 30 and/or pads 26 are made from silicone since silicone is very slippery when it is wet. The channels formed by gaps 28 aid in enabling hot liquids to drain quickly off the exterior of glove 10, and most particularly off the gripping surfaces of glove 10. This improves the handling qualities of the glove 10.

A first method of fabricating glove 10 is illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 4. The base 22 is fabricated from two complementary pieces of drill cotton that are die-cut and then joined together by stitching 23. Alternatively, base 22 may be formed by dipping a former into a quantity of liquid rubber.

Pads 26 may be formed or fabricated in a number of ways including by layering the selected protective material (silicone, neoprene etc.) onto a mesh backing sheet in discrete locations and thereby forming three-dimensional shapes on the sheet. The mesh backing sheet is then applied over an exterior surface, particularly the gripping surface of portions of base 22. Alternatively, discrete individual pads 26 are produced and are then applied individually to a portion of the exterior surface of base 22. If base 22 is fabricated from cotton, pads 26 or the mesh backing with pads 26 thereon will tend to bond to the cotton fabric of base 22. Alternatively, an adhesive or a quantity of liquid rubber or of the selected protective material may be utilized to bond pads 26 to base 22.

Base 22 with the individual pads 26 bonded thereto is then placed on a former “F”. (It should be noted that base 22 may be placed on former “F” prior to application of pads 26.) Former “F” may then be dipped into a quantity of liquid protective material, such as liquid silicone “S”, which then forms a protective layer that coats the entire exterior surface 22 a of base 22 including covering pads 26. This protective layer is identified by the reference character 30 in FIG. 3A. Protective layer 30 is thus applied as a continuous run and this aids in preventing pads 26 from delaminating from base 22, i.e., from peeling off base 22.

A second method of fabricating glove 10 is illustrated diagrammatically in FIGS. 5-8. FIG. 5 shows drill cotton base 22 positioned on a former “F” and then being dipped into a vat of liquid protective material, such as liquid silicone “S”. The dipped base is then removed from the vat of liquid protective material and some of the liquid protective material remains on base 22. This remaining liquid protective material is allowed to dry on base 22. The dried liquid protective material forms a first layer of protective material 24 on exterior surface 22 a of base 22. A plurality of individual pads 26 are then engaged on the exterior surface of first protective layer 24 (FIG. 6). Pads 26 are arranged in a desired pattern and the individual pads 26 are separated from each other by gaps 28. Pads 26 bond or adhere to first protective layer 24.

FIG. 7 shows the base 22, with first protective layer 24 thereon and pads 26 applied thereto subsequently being dipped into a quantity of liquid protective material in order to apply an additional or second protective layer 30 thereover. FIG. 3B shows a cross-section of glove 10 that is formed in this manner. Once again, second protective layer 30 is applied in a continuous run and this aids in preventing pads 26 from delaminating from first protective layer 24.

It should be understood that instead of a base 22 being formed from drill cotton and then undergoing the above-described steps, base 22 may be fabricated from a heat-resistant and waterproof or water-resistant material such as rubber. Pads 26 may then be applied directly to the exterior surface of the rubber base 22 in a similar manner to what is illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 4. A protective layer 30 may be applied over the entire exterior surface of base 22 and pads 26.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5-8 and FIG. 3B, a first protective layer 24 may be applied to the exterior surface 22 a of the rubber base 22, then pads 26 may be applied to the exterior surface of that first protective layer 24; and then a second protective layer 30 may be applied to the entire exterior surface of the glove in such a way that the exterior surface and the pads 26 thereon are covered by layer 30.

FIG. 1 shows that glove 10 with a first pattern of pads 26 provided thereon. FIG. 8 shows glove 110 that is of generally the same construction as glove 10 except that the pattern of the protective pads 126 provided thereon and the configuration of the gaps 128 between pads 126 differs from the pattern of the pads 26 and gaps 28 on glove 10. The pattern of pads 26, 126 and the gaps 28, 128 may be varied in accordance with the use to which gloves 10, 110 will be put.

It will be understood that base 22 could be fabricated by one manufacturer and then shipped to another for coating with protective layers 24 and/or 30 and placement of pads 26. At any point, the glove as processed to that point may be removed from one former and then be positioned on another. Any such variations in the process will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art. It will further be understood that the process as described and illustrated herein is by way of example only.

While gloves 10, 110 have been described as including base 22, and one or both of first protective layer 24 and second protective layer 30, along with a plurality of pads 26, 126, it will be understood that in certain instances the pads 26, 126 may be bonded directly to an exterior surface 22 a of base 22 and the first and second protective layers 24, 30 may be omitted.

In yet other instances, first protective layer 24 may be applied to exterior surface 22 a of base 22 and pads 26, 126 may be applied onto the exterior surface of first protective layer 24 but no second protective layer may be applied over exposed regions of first protective layer 24 and pads 26, 126. Furthermore, it will further be understood that instead of one protective layer 24 being applied over base 22 and then pads 26, 126 being engaged therewith, multiple layers of protective material may be provided between base 22 and pads 26, 126. Furthermore, more than one second protective layer of material 30 may be applied over exposed regions of first protective layer 24 and pads 26, 126.

Protective materials other than silicone may be utilized for layers 24 and 30. For example the layers 24, 30 may be fabricated from silicone mixed with Kevlar® and/or with fiberglass mesh, neoprene or Kevlar®, for example, in much the same manner as in the fabrication of pads 26.

In certain applications, pads may also be provided on the exterior surfaces of the back of the glove in addition to the pads 26 provided on the front surface of glove 10. Pads 26 may also be applied to the interior and exterior surfaces of wrist region 18. Such instances may include when the glove 10 will be used by a worker who might accidentally be able to insert part of glove 10 into hot liquids, for example.

It will further be understood that while a mitt-style glove is illustrated herein, other glove styles that include more than one digit region (i.e., separate index, middle, ring, and/or little finger regions) may also utilize the principles disclosed herein. In other words these glove that have multiple digit regions will also be fabricated by providing a base, engaging one or more pads to the exterior surface thereof; and providing none, one, two or more layers of the selected material such as silicone over and/or under the protective pads.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a puppet style glove utilizing aspects of the present invention. The glove is indicated by the reference number 210. Glove 210 includes a mitt-style digit region 212 but instead of the thumb region 214 being offset and off to one side of the glove (as in hand-specific gloves) or aligned along a common axis (as in ambidextrous gloves), thumb region 214 is positioned generally centrally with respect to digit region 212. Thumb region 214 is able to move toward and away from digit region 212 as indicated by the direction arrow and phantom thumb regions 214 in FIG. 10. Glove 210 includes a base 222, a protective layer 224 applied over an exterior surface of base 222 and a plurality of discrete protective pads 226 provided on an exterior surface of protective layer 224. Pads 226 are provided on the gripping surfaces of glove 210.

FIG. 11 illustrates a knee pad on a person's knee and incorporating aspects of the present invention. Knee pad 310 includes a base 322 with an exterior surface and onto which a plurality of protective pads 326 are applied. Pads 326 are discrete protective pads that are separated from surrounding and adjacent pads 326 by gaps 328. Pads 326 are positioned on the surface of knee pad 310 that will most likely contact the ground if the user falls to their knees during a sporting activity or rests on their knees during the performance of a job such as tile laying. Pads 326 are also arranged in a pattern that may be random or uniform or particularly selected for a task. In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the description and illustration of the preferred embodiment of the invention are an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described. 

1. A protective article comprising: a base having an interior surface and an exterior surface; where the interior surface bounds and defines a space; wherein the base is adapted to receive a part of a user's body therein; and one or more pads provided on regions of the exterior surface of the base; wherein each of the one or more pads is a three-dimensional pad.
 2. The protective article as defined in claim 1, wherein the article is a glove and wherein at least some of the regions including the one or more pads thereon are gripping surfaces of the glove that are adapted to contact objects held by a user.
 3. The protective article as defined in claim 1, wherein the article is a knee pad or an elbow pad; and wherein at least some of the regions including the one or more pads thereon are surfaces of the knee pad or the elbow pad positioned to take an impact.
 4. The protective article as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more pads comprise a plurality of pads and each pad is separated from adjacent pads by a space; and wherein each space define a channel on the protective article.
 5. The protective article as defined in claim 1, further comprising a protective layer positioned between a part of the exterior surface of the base and the one or more pads.
 6. The protective article as defined in claim 1, further comprising a protective layer positioned over a part of the exterior surface of the base and the one or more pads.
 7. The protective article as defined in claim 1, further comprising a first protective layer positioned between a part of the exterior surface of the base and the one or more pads; and a second protective layer positioned over the first protective layer and the one or more pads.
 8. The protective article as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more pads are comprised of a selected material and the selected material is silicone; or neoprene; or Kevlar®; silicone mixed with Kevlar®; or neoprene mixed with Kevlar®; or silicone, neoprene or Kevlar® mixed with a fiberglass mesh; or silicon and Kevlar® and a fiberglass mesh; or neoprene and Kevlar® and a fiberglass mesh.
 9. The protective article as defined in claim 8, wherein the one or more protective pads are individual blocks of the selected material.
 10. The protective article as defined in claim 8, wherein the one or more pads are individual blocks of the selected material that are applied onto a mesh backing.
 11. The protective article as defined in claim 6, wherein the protective layer is comprised of neoprene mixed with Kevlar®; or silicone, neoprene or Kevlar® mixed with a fiberglass mesh; or silicon and Kevlar® and a fiberglass mesh; or neoprene and Kevlar® and a fiberglass mesh.
 12. The protective article as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more pads are comprised of individual blocks of silicone or neoprene or Kevlar®.
 13. The protective article as defined in claim 12, wherein the one or more pads include additional materials that improve abrasion resistance of the one or more pads.
 14. The protective article as defined in claim 13, wherein the additional materials include Kevlar®; or a fiberglass mesh; or a mixture of Kevlar® and a fiberglass mesh.
 15. The protective article as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more pads are arranged in a pattern on the exterior surface of the base.
 16. A method of producing a protective article comprising: providing a base having an interior surface and an exterior surface; and wherein the interior surface bounds and defines a space adapted to receive a part of a user's body; and bonding one or more three-dimensional pads to the exterior surface of the base.
 17. The method as defined in claim 16, further comprising applying a protective layer over the exterior surface of the base prior to bonding the one or more pads thereto.
 18. The method as defined in claim 17, wherein the step of applying the protective layer includes: dipping the base in a quantity of liquid protective material; removing the dipped base from the quantity of liquid protective material; and setting the liquid protective material retained on the exterior surface of the base to form the protective layer.
 19. The method as defined in claim 17, further comprising: forming three-dimensional shapes from silicone or neoprene or Kevlar® or silicone mixed with Kevlar®, neoprene mixed with Kevlar®, silicone mixed with fiberglass mesh, neoprene mixed with fiberglass mesh, silicon mixed with Kevlar® and fiberglass mesh; or neoprene mixed with Kevlar® and fiberglass mesh; placing the formed three-dimensional shapes at intervals on the exterior surface of the base; spacing the three-dimensional shapes from each other so as to form channels between adjacent individual three-dimensional shapes; and bonding the individual three-dimensional shapes to the base.
 20. The method as defined in claim 19, further comprising the steps of: dipping the base with the bonded three-dimensional shapes thereon into an additional quantity of liquid protective material; removing the dipped base with the bonded three-dimensional shapes thereon from the additional quantity of liquid protective material; and allowing the liquid protective material remaining on the removed dipped base with the bonded three-dimensional shapes thereon to dry into an additional protective layer.
 21. The method as defined in claim 19, wherein the step of placing the three-dimensional shapes includes placing the three-dimensional shapes into rows that extend horizontally across the part of the exterior surface of the base.
 22. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein the step of placing the three-dimensional shapes further includes placing the three-dimensional shapes additionally in columns that extend vertically across the part of the exterior surface of the base.
 23. The method as defined in claim 19, wherein the step of placing the three-dimensional shapes further includes positioning the three-dimensional shapes on a front surface of a digit region of a glove and on an interior side of a thumb region of the glove.
 24. The method as defined in claim 23, wherein the step of placing the three-dimensional shapes further includes positioning the three-dimensional shapes on a front surface of a palm region of the glove.
 25. The method as defined in claim 23, wherein the step of placing the three-dimensional shapes includes positioning the three-dimensional shapes on a front surface of a knee pad or an elbow pad. 